Method and apparatus for separating segments of oranges

ABSTRACT

The disclosed apparatus separating the segments of oranges automatically separates the segments of fruits such as oranges, continuously throwing the peeled oranges and separating them into independent segments.

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Priority Yonekichi Morikawa Shimizu, Japan 754,238

Aug. 21, 1968 Mar. 2, 1971 Daiwa Can Co. Ltd. Tokyo, Japan Jan. 24, 1968 Japan METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SEGMENTS OF ORANGES 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

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[51] Int. Cl A23n 15/00 [50] Field ofSearch l46/3.l4; 146/230 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,351,113 11/1967 Suzuki et al.. l46/3X 3,415,298 12/1968 lshibashi 146/3 Primary Examiner--Willie G. Abercrombie Attorney-Watson, Leavenworth and Kelton ABSTRACT: The disclosed apparatus separating the segments of oranges automatically separates the segments of fruits such as oranges, continuously throwing the peeled oranges and separating them into independent segments.

PATENIEU MAR 215m SHEET 2 [1F 2 r METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SEGMENTS OF ORANGES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to apparatus for separating the segments of fruits such as oranges.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, in the, process of manufacturing canned oranges, the operation of separating the segments of the oranges after they are peeled required a great deal of labor, and this limits achieving high processing efficiency. For this purpose, various automatic machines for separatingthe segments of'tlie oranges are known, but due to the irregularity of the size of the oranges and to the fragility of the segments thereof, it has been difficult to automate the processing for mass production-There also is knownmechanical apparatus for separatingthe segments of the oranges. This apparatusefl fects better efficiency than the manual operation, but has some disadvantages. Since the orange is juicy and soft in its sarcocarp, it is easy to break the latter by applying the mechanical pressure directly to the outer surface of the orange. The conventional apparatus uses a film-shaped jet of water ejected directly against the outer surface of the peeled oranges. Since the gaps between the segments are much narrower than the outer surface ofthe segments the jet effect is mostly wasted and thus resultsin an ineffective operation for separating the segments and breakage of the sarcocarp thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention eliminates the aforementioned disadvantages of the conventional apparatus for separating the segments of the orange and provides novel apparatus for separating the segments of fruits such as oranges, which apparatus has high efficiency in the operation thereof and which minimum breakage of the orange segments in operation.

This invention provides apparatus for separating automatically the segments of fruits such as oranges which comprises means, such as a jet stream of water, for rotating the peeled oranges in one direction and meansfor ejecting a jet stream ments of the oranges, a peeled orange supply port at the top of the mesh, guides for preventing the segments from accumulating at the center of the container, paddles for preventing the oranges from floating upwards in the container and for changing the water flow, a plurality of injectingtubes having nozzles for ejecting jet streams of water opposite the water flow produced by the rotation of the container, and an exhaust outlet.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for separating automatically the segments of fruits such as oranges.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for separating the segments of oranges economically and quickly so as not to break the sarcocarp of the segments of the oranges.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus for separating any size of the segments of the oranges.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will further become apparent hereinafter, and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view in front elevation of one form of apparatus made in accordance with this invention; of a small yp FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another form of apparatus, positions thereof being broken away for purposes of clarity;

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, one typeof the apparatus in accordance with this invention is shown.

This apparatus comprises a water tank 1, a rotating container 2 provided in the tank 1, a driving shaft 3 for rotating the container 2 and being extended through the container 2 at its center, and a power or electric motor (not shown) connectedto the top end of the shaft 3. The apparatus further comprises a horizontal lower disc4, an upper annular disc 5 spaced parallel from the lower disc 4, a hollow cylindrical mesh portion 6 mounted above and inwardly of the annular. disc 5, a plurality of resilient frames 7 or stringlike elements mounted at the peripheries of the upper and lower disc and spacedfrom each other so as to correspond substantially to the width of the segments of the oranges, such frames being made of resilient material and made such as cage shape so as to form a rotating container 2 integrally mounted with the cylindrical mesh 6 thereon. The apparatus also comprises a supply port 9 for supplying the peeled oranges 8 at the top of the mesh, and an'exhaust outlet of water 20 provided-at the bottom of the tank 1. The apparatus also comprises a plurality of guides 10 mounted intermediate the upper and lower discs and having tip ends radially located about midway between the periphery of said discs andthe shaft 3, the guides functioning for changing the direction of water flow and for preventing the peeled oranges 8 supplied for accumulating at the center of the container 2. These guides 10 are held stationary by a support (not shown) so as not to rotate together with the container 2 when it rotates. The apparatus also has a plurality of pulsator-shaped bottom paddles 11 in order to prevent the supplied oranges 8-from floating upwards in the container 2 and to change'the water flow, and and injecting tube 12.having an exhaust or jet port, said tube 12 being disposed near the periphery of the supply port 9 of the peeled oranges, said jet port being directed opposite the rotating direction of the container 2 and toward the tangential direction of the periphery of the container 2. And, in this embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is provided with one tube 12, but if required a plurality of tubes may be provided and spaced at the same or different levels. The direction and height of this jet port is adjustable. The apparatus also comprises a plurality of paddles 14 mounted at the outer periphery of the container 2 to serve as reinforcing ribs to prevent deformation of the container 2 by theresistance of water when the container 2 rotates in the water and also for preventing the separated segments of the oranges 13 from rotating together with the container 2 when the segments 13 fall down from between the frames 7 into the. tank 1. I

In operation of theapparatus, in accordance with the size of the peeled oranges and adhesive degree of the segments 13 thereof, the number of revolutions per minute rotational speed of container 2 is conveniently adjusted from 30 to 60 rpm. And also according to the size and adhesive degree, the pressure of water ejected from the jet port of the injecting pipe 12 is adjusted from 0.3 to 1.2 kg/cm".

When the peeled oranges 8 are continuously supplied through the supply port 9 of the cylindrical mesh 6 into the rotating container 2 by means of a suitable supply device (not shown), the oranges quickly are displaced toward the peripheral frames 7 by the operation of the fixed guides 10 and bottom paddles 11 in the container 2. The oranges become pressed against the frames 7 by the pressure of the jet stream ejected from the exhaust port of the injecting tube 12 which jet causes the oranges to rotate at high-speed. In this case since there is a difference between the number of revolutions of the oranges 8 and that of the resilient frames 7, frictional resistance is produced therebetween. When the container 2 rotates, the water stream flows along the same direction as the container 2, as that a vortex flow occurs. By this vortex flow the outer fibers of the covers or epidermis of segments of the oranges are separated, and then the connecting portion of the segments is divided so that the segments are completely separated pass through the frames 7 and fall to the bottom of tank 1.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a large capacity type apparatus for separating the segments of oranges in accordance with this invention is shown.

This apparatus is conveniently used for I automatically separating larger quantities of oranges than that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, since it has many injecting tubes and a large rotating container, and a large mesh portion. This embodiment comprises a water tank 1, a driving shaft 3, a lower disc 4, an upper annular disc 5, a plurality of frames 7 or stringlike elements, a plurality of injecting tubes 12, and an exhaust port 20 similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In addition, the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 comprises a water supply pipe 15, a peeled orange supply tube 16, a pair of bevel gears 17 and gear box 18 disposed between the driving shaft 3 and motor 19, reinforcing stays 21 for preventing the lower disc 4 and upper annular disc 5 from deforming by the resistance of the water while they are rotating.

In operation of this apparatus, in accordance with the size of the peeled oranges 8 and adhesive degree of the segments 13 thereof, the container speed in revolutions per minute is adjusted similarly to these described hereinbefore as to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

When the peeled oranges 8 are continuously supplied through the supply tube 16 to the cylindrical mesh portion 6 of the rotating container 2, the oranges 8 quickly approach the peripheral frames 7 in the container 2 and become pressed against the frames 7 in rotating by the pressure of the jet stream of the water ejected from the jet ports of the injecting tubes 12 so that they rotate in high-speed. In this case since there is a difference between the number of revolutions of the oranges 8 and that of the frames 7, frictional resistance is produced therebetween similarly to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The jet stream is ejected opposite to the direction of the container 2 from the exhaust port similarly to the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the similar operation occurs so that the segments of the oranges 13 are completely separated.

The term used herein, the opposite direction of the jet stream ejected from the jet port of the injecting tube 12 is not intended to mean only the direct opposite. And, the separated segments 13 of the oranges are easily exhausted through between the frames 7 into the water tank 1 so that they are not rotated together with the rotating container 2 to fall down in the tank 1, because a vortexflow is produced at the outer periphery of the rotating container 2 by the paddles 14 mounted at the periphery of the container 2.

The separated segments of the oranges l3 accumulating at the bottom of the tank 1 are exhausted out from the tank 1. And the water in the tank is adapted to be drained through the drain tube mounted at the bottom of the tank 1.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of parts which have been described herein and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. An apparatus for separating the segments of oranges or the like comprising a lower disc, an annular upper disc spaced from the lower disc and coaxial therewith, a plurality of resilient stringlike elements connected with and extending between said discs at the peripheries of the latter and parallel with the axes of said discs, said discs and strin like elements comprising a container for receiving whole pee ed oranges, at

least one injecting tube having a jet port disposed within said container said container being supported for unitary rotation in a predetermined direction about a common axis, said jet port being directed to deliver a jet stream opposite the direction of rotation of said container and adjacent the stringlike elements, and means for rotating said container in said predetermined direction, rotation of said container urging said peeled oranges against said stringlike elements, said jet stream being adapted to rotate said peeled oranges whereby frictional resistance is produced between the rotating oranges and said stringlike elements and the rotative movement of said container causes separation of said oranges into segments.

2. An apparatus for separating the segments of oranges or the like comprising a lower disc, an annular upper disc spaced from the lower disc and coaxial therewith, a plurality of resilient stringlike elements connected with and extending between said discs at the peripheries of the latter and parallel with the axes of said discs, said discs and stringlike elements comprising a container for receiving whole peeled oranges, an injecting tube having ajet port disposed within said container, said container being supported for unitary rotation in a predetermined direction about a common axis, said jet port being directed to deliver a jet stream opposite the direction of rotation of said container and adjacent the stringlike elements, a plurality of guides fixed in extending container and extending radially from the axis thereof, said guides functioning to prevent accumulation of the oranges at the center of said container as it rotates a plurality of pulsator-shaped bottom paddles carried in said container to prevent oranges from moving upwardly in said container during rotation of the latter, and means for rotating said container in said predetermined direction, rotation of said container urging said peeled oranges against said stringlike elements, said jet stream being adapted to rotate said peeled oranges whereby frictional resistance is produced between the rotating oranges and said stringlike elements and the rotative movement of said container causes separation of said oranges into segments.

3. An apparatus for separating the segments of oranges or the like as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of paddles connected with and extending between the peripheries of the latter radially outwardly or the location of said stringlike elements.

4. An apparatus for separating the segments of oranges or the like as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a cylindrical mesh provided coaxially to the container and radially outwardly of the fixed injecting tube. 

1. An apparatus for separating the segments of oranges or the like comprising a lower disc, an annular upper disc spaced from the lower disc and coaxial therewith, a plurality of resilient stringlike elements connected with and extending between said discs at the peripheries of the latter and parallel with the axes of said discs, said discs and stringlike elements comprising a container for receiving whole peeled oranges, at least one injecting tube having a jet port disposed within said container said container being supported for unitary rotation in a predetermined direction about a common axis, said jet port being directed to deliver a jet stream opposite the direction of rotation of said container and adjacent the stringlike elements, and means for rotating said container in said predetermined direction, rotation of said container urging said peeled oranges against said stringlike elements, said jet stream being adapted to rotate said peeled oranges whereby frictional resistance is produced between the rotating oranges and said stringlike elements and the rotative movement of said container causes separation of said oranges into segments.
 2. An apparatus for separating the segments of oranges or the like comprising a lower disc, an annular upper disc spaced from the lower disc and coaxial therewith, a plurality of resilient stringlike elements connected with and extending between said discs at the peripheries of the latter and parallel with the axes of said discs, said discs and stringlike elements comprising a container for receiving whole peeled oranges, an injecting tube having a jet port disposed within said container, said container being supported for unitary rotation in a predetermined direction about a common axis, said jet port being directed to deliver a jet stream opposite the direction of rotation of said container and adjacent the stringlike elements, a plurality of guides fixed in extending container and extending radially from the axis thereof, said guides functioning to prevent accumulation of the oranges at the center of said container as it rotates a plurality of pulsator-shaped bottom paddles carried in said container to prevent oranges from moving upwardly in said container during rotation of the latter, and means for rotating said container in said predetermined direction, rotation of said container urging said peeled oranges against said stringlike elements, said jet stream being adapted to rotate said peeled oranges whereby frictional resistance is produced between the rotating oranges and said stringlike elements and the rotative movement of said container causes separation of said oranges into segments.
 3. An apparatus for separating the segments of oranges or the like as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of paddles connected with and extending between the peripheries of the latter radially outwardly or the location of said stringlike elements.
 4. An apparatus for separating the segments of oranges or the like as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a cylindrical mesh provided coaxially to the container and radially outwardly of the fixed injecting tube. 